Xi's High Wire Act

Xi's High Wire Act

China’s President Xi Jinping is making his final move toward absolute control of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and de facto centralized power of the Chinese state. He is seeking an agenda extension in the forthcoming plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC, which would then be passed along with selected personnel changes of his choosing at the CPC’s National Congress in 2022. In pursuing his objectives, Xi will be stepping on toes and shunting aside powerful people in the Party, the state and private enterprise, which could be dangerous. That makes his moves part of a High Wire Act. One significant slip and he could be history. His adversaries have many issues to raise about his leadership, but he will persist in focusing on his objectives: increasing the centralization of power; enforcing greater control over the economy and society; expanding international influence; and realizing the “great rejuvenation” of China, reviving its one-time status as the world’s economic leader. The October meeting will be crucial and, again, perhaps even dangerous, as will be the 2022 Congress. If Xi emerges victorious in his objectives, then China’s future will be set – that is, if his plan works and China is able to continue doing what it has done in the past: grow.

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